Head-to-head reliability
Ferrari California T vs FORD F 150
How the Ferrari California T and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Ferrari California T vs FORD F 150: The Ferrari has 1 complaint over 9 years and 12 recalls, mostly airbags. The Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints over 10 years, 145 recalls, and 328 crash-related reports. The Ford shows far more reported failures, especially in the transmission and electrical systems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Ferrari California T or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Ferrari California T
The Ferrari California T is a low-volume exotic, so it sees very few complaints per year—just 1 over 9 years. The only owner complaint in this data is about a Takata airbag recall taking too long to repair, not a mechanical breakdown. There are 12 recalls, mostly for airbags and one for hydraulic brakes, but no crashes, injuries, or deaths reported. For a buyer, this suggests the main hassle is getting recall work done, not chronic reliability problems.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a high-volume truck with 11,311 complaints over 10 years—about 1,131 per year. Owners most often report power train issues, especially hard or delayed shifts and sudden loss of power from the 10-speed automatic transmission. Electrical problems like false warnings and transmission-related noises are also common. There are 145 recalls and 328 crash-related complaints, with 287 injuries and 1 death, so buyers should take these patterns seriously.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Ferrari California T | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 12 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Ferrari California T
- 01AIR BAGS1
The only owner complaint is about a Takata airbag recall (campaign 19V006000) where the repair took too long. This matters because the airbag may not deploy correctly until fixed, so buyers should confirm the recall was completed.
One recall covers hydraulic brakes, though no owner complaints describe a specific failure. A buyer should still check for any open brake recall and have the system inspected.
Multiple recalls involve the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator. This is a safety-critical part; if the recall is outstanding, the airbag could rupture or fail in a crash.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FERRARI CALIFORNIA T. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V006000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. FERRARI OF…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard, delayed, or jerky shifts from the 10R80 automatic transmission, and some experienced sudden loss of power or the vehicle shutting off. This can leave you stranded or cause a crash, so a thorough transmission check is essential.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission area, popping sounds from the rear suspension, and false dashboard warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These glitches can distract the driver and may point to deeper wiring or module issues.
There are 1,164 complaints about exterior lighting, often headlights, which can reduce visibility at night. A recall also covers headlights, so check that any recall work was done.
With 847 complaints and multiple engine-related recalls, owners may face stalling, rough running, or other engine faults. This is a major cost risk, so a pre-purchase inspection should include a compression test and scan for stored codes.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Ferrari California T — 12 recalls
The defect: Ferrari North America (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2014 Ferrari California, 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 2014-2016 Ferrari FF, 2014-2017 Ferrari F12, 2015-2018 Ferrari California T, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, 2016 Ferrari F60 America, 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf, 2016-2018 Ferrari 48…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall is…
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2018 488 Spider, 488 Pista, 2015 458 Speciale A, 2016-2018 488 GTB, 2015-2017 F12 Berlinetta, 2016 F12 tdf, and 2016-2018 Carlifornia T vehicles. The air bag Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly causing the non-deployment…
The risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began August 2, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-201-816-2668. Ferrari's number for this recall is 70.
The defect: Ferrari North America, Inc. (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2005-2009 430, 2019-2020 488 Pista, 2016 F60 America, 2005-2011 612 Scaglietti, 2010-2011 612, 2018-2022 812, 2020-2022 F8 Spider, 2020-2022 F8 Tributo, 2021-2022 Roma, 2009-2017 California, 2015-2017 California T, 2013-2017 F12 Berlinetta,…
The risk: A loss of brake function can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap and update the software to provide a new warning message for low brake fluid, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed September…
The defect: Ferrari North America (Ferrari) is recalling certain 2014 Ferrari California, 2014-2015 Ferrari 458 Italia, 458 Spider, 2014-2016 Ferrari FF, 2014-2017 Ferrari F12, 2015-2018 Ferrari California T, 2015 Ferrari 458 Speciale A, 2016 Ferrari F60 America, 2016-2017 Ferrari F12 tdf, 2016-2018 Ferrari 48…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Ferrari will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began March 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ferrari customer service at 1-866-551-2828. Ferrari's number for this recall is…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Ferrari California T or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Ferrari California T has far fewer issues per year—about 0.1 complaints annually versus 1,131 for the Ford F-150. In practice, the Ferrari is a low-volume car with mostly recall-related complaints, while the F-150 is a mass-market truck with frequent reports of transmission, electrical, and engine problems. That means a used F-150 buyer faces a much higher chance of encountering a costly repair.
Key differences
- The Ferrari California T has only 1 complaint in 9 years, while the Ford F-150 has 11,311 complaints in 10 years—a massive gap in reported issues.
- Ferrari complaints center on a Takata airbag recall delay; Ford complaints center on real driving failures like hard shifts, loss of power, and false electrical warnings.
- The Ford F-150 has 328 crash-related complaints, 287 injuries, and 1 death; the Ferrari California T has 0 in each category.
- Ford has 145 recalls covering engines, batteries, seats, and lights; Ferrari has 12 recalls, mostly for airbags and one for hydraulic brakes.
- Confirm the Takata airbag recall (campaign 19V006000) and any passenger-side inflator recalls have been completed—ask for written proof from a Ferrari dealer.
- Check for any open hydraulic brake recall and have the brake system inspected for leaks or soft pedal feel.
- Test-drive the truck through all gears, especially 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8, looking for hard jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement that suggest 10R80 transmission trouble.
- Scan for stored electrical codes and verify that warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' do not appear on startup.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA.gov to see all open recalls for the specific vehicle and confirm they were repaired.
- For the Ferrari, ask for dealer service records showing the Takata airbag and brake recalls were completed.
- For the Ford, pay a mechanic to inspect the transmission, engine, and electrical system, including a test drive that mimics stop-and-go and highway merging.
- Check for any crash damage or repaired bodywork, especially on the Ford given its 328 crash-related complaints.
- Get a pre-purchase inspection from a specialist familiar with the model—Ferrari for the California T, Ford truck specialist for the F-150.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Ferrari California T | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 56 |
| 2017 | 1 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Ferrari California T or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Ferrari California T vs FORD F 150
- Ferrari California T total complaints
- 1
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Ferrari California T total recalls
- 12
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Ferrari California T avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Ferrari California T
- Ferrari California T top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN